Camping is an excellent way to save money, as a night will cost you between $8 and $20, even cheaper than most places here!

There some things you should know before you head out.  The camping and travelling experience you're used to in North America is a bit different than what you will find in Europe.  Here's a list of things I learnt during our first camping trip in Europe.  I hope these tips will make your European Vacation that much more enjoyable!

Have a great trip!

(Note: All prices in Canadian Dollars)

Campsite in Brugge, Belgium

Camping:

Price - the price for a night of camping can be as low as $8 but sometimes does not include the price for a shower, which can be as much as $1.50 per person per day.

Toilet Paper - I found that it is best if you carry a small package of Kleenex in your pockets, as some washrooms are not fitted with toilet paper.

Opening Hours - camping receptions are not open very late. Make sure you plan your trip so that you reach your destination before dark. Sometimes, they'll be instructions for late arrivals such as setup and pay in the morning, but they will not alway be in your language!

Camping Carnet International - I purchased an CCI before I left, which came with a booklet and a few coupons. It is relatively inexpensive, but is not very useful if you have a destination planned out. There are very few campsites listed per country and the card is far from being a requirement if you have a passport (and you should!)

Food:

Opening Hours - groceries have a tendency to close very early by our standards, and maybe not be open everyday of the week. You should check as one grocery will be open Sunday, but closed Monday, while the other will not be open neither Saturday nor Sunday. Likewise, restaurants can close as early as 9 pm. Don't get caught trying to eat past 10 unless you're fortunate to find a fast food that is still open.

Ice - this has to be the most shocking discovery : it is impossible to buy a bag of ice anywhere in Europe. If you intend to camp, you'll have to rely on canned food or pasta.

Butane - don't bother bringing your own camping stove to Europe unless you are certain you'll find the right butane tanks. The butane containers are pretty much standardized throughout Europe, but are different from the ones my camping stove needed. Since you cannot carry butane on the plane, it is sound to plan to buy a new stove once you're across (you can also borrow the one I had to bring back :)

Campsite - it can sometimes be tricky to find a campsite. If you have a Michelin road map, you will be able to see some campsites and number of places. Chances are you'll find one or more road signs in just about every town giving directions towards a campsite. Make sure you remember how to get to your campsite (I know it sounds stupid, but trust me.)

Roundabouts - there are plenty out there! Follow this simple rule and you should be trouble free - people in the roundabout have priority. If you're not sure what exit to take, stay in for a couple turns until your co-pilot figures it out.

Highway numbers - check your map for city names in the direction you intend to travel. Signs do not indicate Hwy E-12 South like in North America, but rather Hwy E-12 Namur, indicating cities in the direction you want to travel rather than cardinal points. The better you know your map, the easier it will be to find your way around.

City names - if the country you're in speaks more than one languague, chances are that the cities will have several names, sometimes very similar, sometimes not. In Belgium, your map will indicate each city in the language of the province, but on the road, direction to a French city will be in Flemmish, if you are in the Flemmish part, and vice-versa. You might find it difficult to recognize the sign for city your looking for on your map!

Switzerland & Others - you should be aware that you will need a special highway license to drive around in certain countries. The license can cost you up to $35 and highway driving is almost necessary for those countries. The license is good for a year, but is pretty expensive for a few hours or days.

International Driving Permit - although it might not be a requirement depending on the country you visit, your age and your rental agency, for a little over $10, you can hardly go wrong with the IDP. It also comes with a convenient chart of international road signs. The IDP is valid for a year but you need a valid drivers' license to obtain it.

Money:

Bank Machines - generally speaking, machines that indicate Plus or Cirrus will be compatible with your bank card and let you withdraw funds from your account in the local currency. By the time you get there, chances are the the Euro will be the only currency in use in over 12 countries in Europe, so that's even better. Be aware that two bank machines from the same bank might be different as one will be compatible, and the other one not! Remember that if you get the error message that your PIN is entered incorrectly, it could very well be that the bank system is incompatible, and retrying twice will completely void all your debit and credit cards at once. I found that out the hard way. The only recourse you'll have then is to go in your bank and re-activate your PIN, very convenient when you're in Germany ! If that happens to you, you can still use your credit card for purchases or to get cash advances if you go in a bank, in which case you'll lose a few dollars for the interest but won't need your PIN. If you happen to own a joint account with one of the persons traveling with you, and are familiar with phone or internet banking, this is a very good "Plan B" (it works, really!)

Change - keep some change in your pockets, as some major touristic places (beaches, ...) will charge you to use their facilities. Parkings fees are also a good place to use some spare change.

Sightseeing:

Route - try avoiding highways as you travel if you can afford the extra time. Some of the scenery is absolutely beautiful, and some of the roads are just a blast to drive.

Centrum - if you want to aim for downtown, look for the word centrum or any variations to it (Zentrum, Centre, ...). Another good guess is the train station, usually right in the middle of the town (look for station.)

Maps - try getting a map prior to going to a city. I must say I haven't done that too many times, but is sure is worth it. You can save a couple hours fooling around if you already have a map.

Touristic Information - usually a good place to start to find attractions or free maps.

Bus/Boat Tours - those are cool, but can be quite expensive. Just have a look at their pamphlet, it will tell you where the best attractions are, and maybe even give you a small map; you'll be able to visit most of the attractions by foot. Some bus tours are valid for a whole day, and you can get on or off at will, this could be convenient in a large city if you don't have a car.

Parking - larger cities will charge you for parking, and some of the systems are pretty technologicaly advanced. Some cities have signs throughout indicating the number of spots available in the major parking areas. A map can be useful once again.

Phones:

Canada Direct - using Canada Direct will give you a direct line to Canada, and the ability to use your calling card (from home) while overseas. This is a very convenient feature, so I recommend taking down the key phone numbers before you go. Note that not all public phones will give you the free connection. If one doesn't work, try a phone from a different company.

Bank Phone Number - 1-800 numbers will likely not be available to you, if for example you use Canada Direct. The operator might be able to find the non-toll-free number for the organization you're trying to call, but I recommend finding the numbers you may need before you leave just in case...